PPDA investigation: two new legal proceedings for rape

Europe 1 with AFP 2:59 p.m., December 17, 2021

A new investigation was opened and entrusted to an examining magistrate on Wednesday against Patrick Poivre d'Arvor, the former star presenter of TF1 being accused of rape by the writer Florence Porcel, the Nanterre public prosecutor's office told Friday. 'AFP, confirming information from TF1-LCI. The writer and journalist Florence Porcel, 38, accuses the former star presenter of the TF1 newscast of having forced her to have sex in 2004 and fellatio in 2009. Her first complaint against PPDA, who denied these accusations, had been filed in February and then closed at the end of June by the Nanterre prosecutor's office for "prescription" and "insufficient evidence". It is on these facts of 2009 classified for "insufficient evidence" that the investigators will investigate again,the prosecution told AFP.

After a classification without continuation of a preliminary investigation by magistrates of the public prosecutor's office, a plaintiff can constitute a civil party in order to cause the referral to a judge to investigate again the alleged facts. This is what Florence Porcel did at the end of November, thus triggering the opening of a judicial investigation. The Nanterre public prosecutor's office also opened on Thursday a second investigation targeting Patrick Poivre d'Arvor, this one carried out by prosecutors. The preliminary investigation follows a complaint filed last week by a woman who accuses the journalist and writer of raping her during the 1985 Cannes Film Festival, when she was 23. Facts that appear to be prescribed. "My client receives as an expression of consideration this openness toinvestigation when the facts are prescribed, proof that his courage was not in vain, declared his lawyer Laure Heinich to AFP.

27 testimonies against PPDA

According to a source close to the case, the prosecution opened this preliminary investigation because it is "important to carry out verifications on the facts before determining whether they are prescribed or not".

According to this source, the "wave of accusations" targeting Patrick Poivre d'Arvor "incites (justice) to verify" the facts denounced.

According to an AFP count on Friday, at least 27 women testified to investigators or in the press accusing Patrick Poivre d'Arvor of rape, sexual assault or sexual harassment, including two minors at the time of the alleged offenses .

Eleven have filed a complaint.